DIKTAS Project/IGRAC Experience

Protection and Sustainable Use of the Dinaric Karst Transboundary Aquifer System

A Rocky Road to Cooperation

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What is DIKTAS?

DIKTAS is a project initiated by the aquifer-sharing states and supported by GEF - Global Environment Facility. It is implemented by UNDP and executed by UNESCO. • facilitate the equitable and

sustainable utilization of the transboundary water resources of the Dinaric Karst Aquifer System, and

• protect the unique groundwater dependent ecosystems that characterize the Dinaric Karst region of the Balkan peninsula.

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Global Objective

• At the global level: to focus attention of the international community on the huge but vulnerable water resources contained in karst aquifers

• Replication of experiences in other karst areas

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What is Karst?

Karst is a special type of geologic environment that is formed by dissolution and corrosion of soluble rocks, such as limestone and dolomite. Karst hydrogeology is characterized by high fracture controlled permeability, almost total absence of surface water, high infiltration rates and rapid underground flows of groundwater.

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DIKTAS Elaborated• Core partners: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and

Montenegro • Regional partners: Slovenia, Greece and Italy• International partners :GWP-MED, IGRAC, IAH, ….

• Full size GEF regional project

• 2010-2014• Budget ca M$5.2• PCU hosted by the

Water Agency in Trebinje, BiH

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Project Components

I - Improving the understanding of the resource and of its

environmental status

II - Establishing cooperation

mechanisms among countries sharing the

aquifer III - Facilitating

harmonization of policies and

priority reforms

IV - Stakeholder Participation, Consultation and Communication

TransboundaryDiagnostic Analysis (TDA)

Int. Consultation and Information Exchange Body (CIE)National Interministerial Committees (NICs)

Strategic Action Program (SAP)

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Regional Hydrogeological Map

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Transboundary Aquifers

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Data Collection and Processing

• Collection – sources, availability

• Differences in languages, classifications, formats, reference systems, etc.

• Processing, harmonisation• Presentation, dissemination

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DIKTAS Database Structure

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DIKTAS Web Portal

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bridging the people

that’s it, thanks